Jar vise



May 7, 1940. w. YEATTS JAR VIS E Filed Oct. 2a, 1938 IN VEN TOR.

' ATTORNEYS.

Patented May 7, 1940 JAR VISE.

William Yeatts, West Friendship, Md., assignor to a George C. Zouras, Washington, D. 0.

Application October 28, 1938, Serial No. 237,549

1 Claim.

This invention relates to a vise designed primarily for use in sealing jars and similar containers and in removing the caps or closures from them. Heretofore considerable difficulty frequently has been experienced in holding the container against rotation while the cap or cover is being tightened. One reason for this is that the container frequently istoo hot to be held by the hand of the operator during the sealing operation and also because the jar or other container frequently is wet or slippery and is thus difficult to grip properly with the hand.

An object of the present invention is to provide a vise adjustable for use with jars of diiferent sizes and which constitutes a means for tightly gripping the jar at the base w 'le, at the same time, a special tool is utilized both for gripping the cover, pressing the jar and vise into intimate contact, and rotating the cover until it is properly sealed.

A further object is to provide a structure of this character which can be manufactured at. low cost, will not readily get out of order, and can be adjusted readily to adapt it to jars or other containers of difierent. sizes.

Another object is to provide the device with a jar centering means whereby danger of break-. of pressure theretov ing the jar during application is reduced to the minimum.

With the foregoing and other objects in view which will appear as the description proceeds, the invention consists of certain novel details of construction and combinations of parts hereinafter more fully described and pointed out in the claim, it being understood that changes may be made in the construction and arrangement of parts without departing from the spirit of the invention as claimed.

In the accompanying drawing the preferred form of the invention has been shown.

In said drawing:

Figure 1 is a central vertical longitudinal section through the jar vise, a jar in position therein being indicated by broken lines.

Figure 2 is a plan view of the structure shown in Figure 1, the cap-engaging element being removed.

Figure 3 is a section on line 33, Figure 2.

Figure 4 is a top plan view of one of the vise jaws.

Figure 5 is a bottom gripping element.

Referring to the figures by characters of referplan view of the capence I designates a base of any desired propor tions which can be made of sheet metal, wood or any other desired material. In the present instance it is-formed of aplate stamped or cast to proper shape and erected on this base adjacentlto the sides thereof are upstanding brackets 2 formed preferably of sheet metal. These brackets are provided with flat top portions 3 on which are mounted flanges 4 extending from a plate 5 in which is provided an opening 6 surrounded by a depending flange 1. The opening is of such size as to receive and center the body portlon of a preserving jar of large size, there being regularly spaced offset portions 8 provided by flange 1 and the wall of opening 6 by means of which it is possible to support within the opening 6 a rectangular preserving jar of the same capacity as a cylindrical jar.

The plate 5 can be fastened to the supporting brackets 2 in any suitable manner. For example angular tongues 9 can be struck downwardly from the flanges 4 and inserted through slots I0 provided in the flat top' portion 3 of the brackets, these tongues being bent outwardly as shown particularly in Figure 3 so as to prevent relative movement of plate 5 and brackets 2.

overlying and resting on plate 5 is a reduction ring II which can be secured to the plate by screws 12 or other means, as will be obvious. This plate has an opening l3 therein coaxial with opening 6 but of such diameter as to fit close to a jar J of smaller capacity than those to be supported within the opening 6.

Formed within the end portions of the base i are longitudinal slots l4 and mounted on the slotted portions of the base are attaching plates 3 l5 adjustably held to the base by bolts [6 or the like extending through the slots. Each of these plates has a sleeve I! in which is mounted the intermediate portion l8 of a yoke Hi. This yoke is preferably formed of a stiif Wire or rod and, as shown particularly in Figure 4, the ends of the yoke are secured within sleeves 20 provided at the sides of a plate 2|. cured on plate 2| between sleeves 20 and the concave surface thereof is provided with a lining 23 formed preferably of rubber and presenting a gripping surface. Thus the plate 2|, strip 22, lining 23 and sleeve 20 provide a gripping jaw mounted for up and down swinging movement about the point of connection between yoke I 9 and plate IS.

The two jaws are oppositely disposed and are extended toward each other. These jaws are yieldingly supported normally by spring strips 24 which thrust upwardly against the respective An arcuate strip 22 is se-' plates 2|, said springs being secured to the base l as indicated at 25.

For use in connection with the jar-gripping jaws, there is provided a tool which, as shown particularly in Figure 5, includes opposed yokes 26 and 21 formed preferably although not necessarily of stiff wire or metal rods, these yokes constituting oppositely extending handles. The free ends of the yoke 26 are turned toward each other to provide pintles 28 and these are mounted for movement within eyes 29 formed at the ends of the other yoke 21. To each of these yokes is secured a thrust plate 30 having side sleeves 3| in which the sides of the yoke are secured and on each thrust plate is mounted an arcuate strip 32 the concave surface of which is formed with a lining 33 preferably of rubber and which presents an efficient gripping surface. These parts 39, 3|, 32 and 33 cooperate to form a gripping jaw and when the yokes. 26 and 21 are swung upwardly from the positions shown, for example, in Figure 1, the jaws will swing apart so as to release an object interposed between them. When the handles or yokes are pressed downwardly, however, so as to swing about their points of connection, the jaws will grip an interposed object so that it can be held against rotation independently of the jaws.

Normally the vise jaws A and B formed by the thrust plate 2|, strips 22 and linings 23, are inclined upwardly toward each other as shown in Figure 1. A small size jar J is then inserted downwardly through the opening |3 so that it will rest on the upwardly converging plate 2| between the linings 23 as shown in Figure 1. While the jar is thus supported, it is held against swinging movement in any direction because the opening I3 is but little greater in diameter than that portion of the jar surrounded thereby. Thus the jar will be held properly centered on the inclined thrust plate 2|. The operator next swings apart the jaws C and D so that the lid L, which has been placed on the jar, can be received between them. As the jar with the lid thereon can be quickly transferred while hot to the position described, suitable tongs or other handling means being used for this purpose, it will be apparent that no discomfort is occasioned the operator. As soon as the parts have been assembled as described, the operator presses downwardly on the yokes 26 and 21. This causes the linings 33 of the jaws C and D to press firmly against opposed portions of the lid L. At the same time the plate 30 thrusts against the top of the lid so that the jar J in turn is thrust downwardly against the thrust plate 2|. These plates therefore are moved downwardly under the imparted pressure and against the action of springs 24 with the result that the linings 23 of the jaws A and B will tightly grip opposed portions of the jar at the base thereof, this gripping action naturally increasing in proportion to the downward pressure applied. Obviously, too, the gripping action of the jaws C and D increases in proportion to the downward pressure exerted. Following the foregoing operation the operator rotates the yokes 26 and 21 and their jaws C and D about the longitudinal axis of the container J and its lid L with the result that the gripped lid will thus be rotated on the jar while at the same time the jar will be held firmly against rotation. Thus said jar can be quickly sealed. Following the sealing operation the yokes 26 and 21 are pulled upwardly. This results in the jaws C and D moving away from and releasing lid I while at the same time the push plate 2| will be moved upwardly under the action of springs 24 so that the gripping linings 23 will move out of contact with and release the base portion of the jar. The jar can then be removed and the operation repeated.

When it is desired to use a jar of a larger size, ring H is removed and by loosening bolts l6 and sliding the plates l apart the correct distances, subsequently tightening the bolts, the jaws A and B will be properly spaced to receive the base portion of the larger container.

As before stated this device can be made of any suitable material and sizes and it is not only advantageous because of its adjustable features but also because it can be produced at low cost.

The term jar in the description and claim is to be construed as referring to any kind of container on which the vise can be used.

What is claimed is:

A jar vise including a base, spaced attaching plates adjustably secured to the base, oppositely disposed yokes pivotally mounted on the respective plates, a jaw carried by each yoke, each jaw including a thrust plate, a cross strip thereon, means at .the ends of the plate for engagement by the yoke, a .resilient gripping element on one surface of the cross strip, springs interposed between the jaws and base for holding said jaws normally inclined upwardly toward each other, and aguide fixedly mounted above and carried by the base, said guide constituting means for receiving a jar and holding it against swayin movement while supported on the thrust plate, and said attaching plates being adjustable toward or from each other to move the jaws relative to the base and springs into position to grip jars of different diameters.

WILLIAM YEATTS. 

